Hammering tools



Nov. 22, 1966 R. o. BILLINGS 3,287,066

HAMMERING TOOLS Filed Feb. 12, 1964 3740 INVENTOR ROY o. BILLINGS 5 e v BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,287,066 HAIVIIVIERING TOOLS Roy 0. Billings, Box 2611, Milwaukee. Wis. Filed Feb. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 344,385 Claims. (Cl. 299-37 This invention relates to improvements in hammering tools, and more particularly to a novel surface breaking tool for interchangeable use on an excavating machine. In my copending applications, Serial No. 159,577, filed December 15, 1961, now Patent No; 3,143,228, and Serial No. 207,946, filed July 6, 1962, now Patent No. 3,143,229, I have disclosed a new type of excavating machine combining features of a clam shell and which is suspended from a telescopic dipstick, the latter operating off the end of a special type of boom. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a special interchangeable hammering implement for such an excavator for breaking up concrete and the like, or otherwise exerting a hammering action on road surfaces, thereby increasing the utility and versatility of the machine.

At the present time, in street repair work and many other excavating jobs, it is necessary to have several different types of machines at the job site. First, to break up the concrete or other top surface, compressed air spades or hammers are usually employed, with more powerful hydraulic hammers being used to break through the larger sections of concrete. Then, after the concrete or asphalt surface has been broken up and removed, excavators of the clam shell or backhoe type are required to remove the dirt or gravel therebelow. With this in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a chisel-like excavator attachment which is designed to perform the function of a hydraulic or pneumatic hammer, thereby providing a versatile excavating machine capable of performing all of the normally-required operations in street repair work and similar excavating jobs.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel chisel-like implement which is adapted to be quickly and easily installed on an excavating machine of the type disclosed in the aforementioned copending patent applications, in place of the clam shell digging bucket normally utilized therewith, and which chisel implement provides an unusually effective surfacebreaking tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chisellike tool for mounting on an excavator, as described, which tool is so designed that there is a minimum of damaging shock or strain on the excavator during the surface-breaking operation.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a novel surface-breaking implement for excavators which is relatively inexpensive in construction, simple and reliable in operation, rugged and durable, and which is otherwise particularly well adapted for its intended purposes.

With the above and other objects in view, which other objects and advantages of the present device will become apparent hereinafter, the invention comprises the novel surface-hammering implement for excavators hereinafter described and any and all modifications or variations thereof as may come within the spirit of said invention, and within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an excavator having the novel hammering tool comprising the present invention mounted thereon, the particular instrument illustrated being a chisel;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the excavator dipstick and chisel mounting assembly, parts thereof being broken away and shown in section;

3,287,056 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the chisel;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the chisel; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, showing the chisel and dipstick connecting pin assembly.

With more particular reference now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, illustrated therein is a portion of the socalled stick clam excavator with which the present invention is designed to be used. Said excavator includes an elongated boom 10 which is pivotally and swivelly mounted on a tractor crawler, or other vehicle (not shown). A hydraulic hoist ram 11 is secured to said boom as at 12, for raising and lowering the same, and also mounted on said boom is a hydraulic ram 13 which is designed to pivot the dipstick 20 about its connection, in the same general manner as the structure described in the aforementioned copending patent applications, Serial Nos. 159,577 and 207,946, now Patents Nos. 3,143,228 and 3,143,229, respectively, which applications are intended to be incorporated herein by reference.

Unlike the boom and dipstick assemblies disclosed in said prior patent applications, the present structure includes a hydraulic motor 14 which is utilized to shift the dipstick 20 longitudinally. Said motor includes a suitable system of fluid lines and valves, and a reservoir, such as are well known in the art, and is designed to drive an endless chain 15 which is trained about one of a pair of concentric driven sprockets 16 rotatably carried on the boom outer end. The dipstock 20 is slidably carried in a saddle 17, which saddle is pivotally connected as at 17' to the boom, and extending longitudinally between the ends of said dipstick is an elongated stationary chain 21 which meshingly engages with the other of said pair of driven sprockets 16. Said dipstick chain 21 is deflected slightly and wrapped partially around said sprocket 16, as shown, and is maintained in proper engagement therewith by means of idler sprockets 18 and 19 carried by the dipstick saddle 17.

To raise or lower the dipstick 20 in the illustrated machine, the hydraulic motor 14 is actuated to drive the endless chain 15, and the sprockets 16 on the boom outer end around one of which said chain is trained. The other of said sprockets 16 meshes with the stationary longitudinal chain 21 on the dipstick to provide a sprocket and rack arrangement for moving said dipstick up and down. In the use of the chisel instrument 9 comprising the present invention, which will be hereinafter described, the dipstick and chisel can be either driven downwardly by said motor and sprocket assembly to deliver a hammerlike blow against the surface to be broken up, or said surface-breaking tool can be allowed to fall by gravity through a suitable clutch arrangement, said motor and sprocket being used to raise the dipstick after each blow. It is contemplated that both methods of delivering the surface-shattering impact will be utilized depending upon the requirements of the particular excavator, and the invention is not to be limited in this respect.

The dipstick 20 in the present structure is I-shaped in cross section, similar to the dipstick disclosed in the aforementioned copending application, Serial No. 207,946, now Patent No. 3,143,229 and a pair of plates 24 are welded on opposite sides of the dipstick lower end, there being a flexible coupling chain 25 vertically movably carried between and depending below said plates. Said coupling chain is supported by a transverse pin 22 which is projected through the uppermost link of said chain and through aligned vertical slots 23 in said plates, said slots being of a length to limit the vertical travel of said pin within predetermined limits. The dipstick foot 26 is provided with spaced, depending radial shoulders 28, and formed through the center of said foot is an opening 27 through which the coupling chain 25 projects.

A hydraulic ram 29 and chain and sprocket assembly 30-32 is mounted on the dipstick-lower end, and, as is described in said prior application, when it is desired to obtain a rigid connection between the dipstick and the digging implement supported therebelow, said ram 29 may be extended downwardly to cause the chain 30 which is trained around sheaves 31 and 32 and connected to the uppermost link of said coupling chain 25, to draw said coupling chain upwardly into the dipstick. The'digging implement is thus pulled upwardly into firm engagement with the underside of the dipstick foot. The purpose of this novel coupling arrangement is to provide a flexible connection whereby the bucket or other digging implement can assume any desired angular position relative to the dipstick, to facilitate the emptying of said bucket into a truck or the like, and which coupling can be quickly and easily altered to provide a rigid connection between said dipstick and digging members, for accurate positioning relative to the the excavation, and for applying positive digging force.

With reference now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, wherein the novel chiseldevice 9 characterizing the present invention is shown in vertical section, it will be seen that said implement is provided with a circular top plate 35 having a central opening 36 through which the lowermost link of the coupling chain 25 projects, and formed on the upper, surface of said top plate are spaced radial shoulders 37. Formed in and through said plate adjacent its outer edge are four circumferentially-spaced apertures (FIGS-3 and 4) having bushings 38 fitted therein, and slidably projected through said top plate apertures are elongated studs 39 having threaded upper and lower ends. The upper ends of said studs normally project a short distance above said plate 35, and threaded thereon are self-locking nuts 40. Rigid on the underside of said top plateare a pair of apertured cars 41 which are spaced on opposite sides of the plate central opening 36, the function of which members will be hereinafter seen.

Spaced below the plate 35 is a concentric lower plate 44 having tapped bores 45 into which the lower ends of the aforementioned studs 39 are threaded, and encircling each of said studs between said upper and lower plates are compression springs 46 which function to yieldiugly maintain said plates in spaced relation. Welded or otherwise permanently attached to the underside of said lower plate 44 are relatively thick. discs or weights 48, of slightly smaller diameter than said plate, and permanently secured When it is desired to mount the present invention on i an excavator of the type illustrated, the clam shell bucket normally utilized on said excavator can be detached and removed from the dipstick in the manner described in de-' tail in copending application Serial No. 207,946 now Patent No. 3,143,229. With the coupling chain 25 in its extended condition, the chisel 9 is positioned. immediately beneath the dipstick foot 26 and the bottom link of said coupling chain is lowered through the opening 36 in the chisel top member 35. A pin 60 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) is then projected transversely through said lowermost chain link and the ends of said pin are inserted into the aforementioned apertured ears 41 on the underside of said plate 35, thus releasably connecting said chisel to the dipstick.

The flexible coupling chain 25 is then drawn upwardly into the dipstick, through the ram and sprocket mechanism 2932 hereinabove described, to pull the chisel upwardly into firm engagement with the dipstick foot (FIG.

to and beneath said disc are progressively smaller concentric weights in the form of discs 49 and 50, thus providing a relatively heavy, or weighted housing, the purpose of which will be seen. through said housing, and formed in the lowermost disc 50 is a tapped radial bore 52 which opens in said central bore, and into which a set screw 53 is threaded.

Slidably carried within the bore 51 in the disc members 58-50 in the present invention is an elongated chisel shank 54. Said slidable shank is designed so that when it is in a raised position, with its upper end abutting the underside of the plate 44, the shank lower end projects a short distance below the guide housing formed by said discs, as is shown in broken lines in FIG. 3. When said shank is in its lowered, full-line position, which it normally assumes by gravity, it extends a substantial distance below said guide housing. Said shank is provided with a longitudinal groove 59 (FIG. 3), the upper limit of which is below the shank upper end, and the aforementioned set screw 53 projects into said groove to prevent said shank from rotating within the bore 51, and to prevent said shank from falling downwardly out of the guide housing. The plate 44 is preferably provided with a small central opening through which a rod or the like can be driven to free the shank in the event dirt causes the same to become stuck in a raised position.

Welded to and surrounding the lower end of said shank 54 is an annular flange having spaced apertures there- A vertical bore 51 is formed 2). When the chisel is thus rigidly joined to the dipstick, the radial shoulders 28 on the underside of said dipstick foot engage against said chisel top member 35, and the upwardly-projecting shoulders, 37 on the latter fit between pairs of said dipstick shoulders 28 to, prevent relative rotation of said dipstick and chisel members.

In the use of the novel chisel-like tool comprising the present invention, the crawler or other vehicle on which the unit is mounted is positioned adjacent the intended excavation, and the boom 10 and dipstick saddle 17 are adjusted so that the dipstick 20 is held in a vertical position directly over the surface area to be broken up. The dipstick is then rapidly lowered, either by means of the motor-driven sprocket and chain mechanism 14-16 or by gravity, as hereinabove described, to cause the pointedend of said chisel to'deliver a shattering blow to the street or road surface. As the dipstick descends, the chisel shank 54 is in its normal, lowered position within the bore 51,.and when the shank point or tip 56 hits the ground, the weighted guide housing and upper portion of the implement continues downwardly thereon until the plate 44 strikes the shank upper end. Thus there is provided a hammer-like, downwardblow on said chisel which provides additional shattering force against the surface being broken up.

It has been found that the novel, dual-impact obtained with each stroke of the dipstick in the present invention is unusually effective in breaking up even the thickest concrete or asphalt surfaces. After each downward stroke the disptick and chisel are raised by means of the hydraulic motor and sprocket mechanism 14-16, as mentioned, and the boom may be re-positioned relative to the excavation by means of suitable remote control means located in the operators cab, as described in the aforementioned copending applications.

During the operation of the present surface-breaking implement, each time the chisel strikes the ground it receives a jarring shock or jolt, of course. However, due to the unique design of the present invention, wherein the compression of said springs, and a momentary drawing together of said plates. The result is that the major portion of the impact or shock is taken by said springs 46,- and the jolting effect on the tool, and transmitted to the.

excavator through the rigid dipstick, is minimized. This is an important feature of the present invention inasmuch as it prolongs the life of the machine, and it also greatly promotes the comfort of the operator.

When it becomes necessary to replace the chisel tip 56, as is occasionally required in normal use, said tip can be readily disconnected from the shank merely by removing the bolts 58 from the abutting tip and shank flanges 55 and 57, and installing a new tip on said shank. In the event the shank should become bent or distorted during use, it too can be quickly and easily replaced merely by retracting the end of the set screw 53 from its protruding position within the shank groove 59, and withdrawing said shank from the end of the bore 51. Thus there is provided a tool assembly which is not only simple and strong, but wherein the repair or replacement of parts can be accomplished with a minimum of down time, and without any special tools or equipment.

After the surface of the street or other area being excavated has been broken up by the chisel-like implement comprising the present invention, said surface-breaking tool can be readily removed and replaced on the excavator by a clam shell bucket, or other digging tool. To remove said chisel it is merely necessary to extend the coupling chain 25, by means of the ram and chain mechanism 29-32, thus loosening said coupling chain and permitting the withdrawal of the connecting pin 60.

With the present invention the depth to which the device can be used is not limited to the length of the hammering tool. With the present invention, due to the novel mounting on a slidable dipstick, which in turn is mounted on the end of a swinging boom, a hammering action may be exerted for a very substantial depth into a trench or the like, even with a short chisel or hammering instrument. In addition, it is possible to exert a hammering action on terraces, slopes or banks at any angle, and the latter cannot be done with conventional hammers.

In addition to the above, it is to be understood that the particular type of hammering instrument may be varied by removing the bolts at 58 and replacing the chisel 56 with some other type of hammering instrument, such as a tamper, punch, or other type of hammering cutter.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel tool which can be interchangeably mounted on an excavator for use in breaking up concrete street surfacing, for tamping, or the like, thereby eliminating the necessity for employing separate machines for that purpose. The chisel-like implement comprising the present invention is designed particularly for use with a type of excavator such as is disclosed in my copending patent applications Serial Nos. 159,577 and 207,946, now Patents Nos. 3,143,228 and 3,143,229, respectively, but it is to be understood that the device can also be advantageously utilized with conventional excavators, and the invention is by no means to be limited or confined in this respect. Moreover, it is contemplated that various changes or modifications in the illustrated device will undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art, and what is intended to be covered herein is not only the illustrated form of the invention, but also any and all modifications thereof as may come within the spirit of said invention and within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A hammering tool for use in connection with a vertically reciprocable member comprising a weighted housing having means for connection with said vertically reciprocable member and having a vertical bore, a shank telescopically slidably mounted in said bore, means at the upper end of said bore positioned to engage and hammer said shank where the shank telescopes in the bore, said shank having a longitudinal groove therein terminating short of its upper and lower ends, a set screw threaded in said housing and projecting into said shank groove, and a tool carried by the lower end of said shank.

2. A surface breaking tool for attachment to the dipstick of an excavating machine, comprising: an upper plate having a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough; a stud slidably projected through each of said apertures, said studs having stop means on their upper ends and having threaded lower ends; a lower, concentric plate spaced below said upper plate, said lower plate having tapped apertures into which the lower ends of said studs are threaded; a compression spring surrounding each of said studs between said plates to yieldingly maintain the same in spaced relation and to provide a shock absorber therebetween; a weighted shank housing depending from the underside of said lower plate, said housing having a central vertical bore therethrough, and having a tapped radial bore communicating therewith; an elongated shank slidably carried in said vertical housing bore, said shank being of a length to project below said housing when its upper end abuts the underside of said lower plate, said shank having a longitudinal groove therein terminating below its upper end; a set screw threaded in said housing radial bore and protruding into said shank groove; a tip removably mounted on the lower end of said shank; and means for removably mounting said tool on the lower end of an excavator dipstick, whereby said tool may be lowered to cause said shank tip to forcibly strike and break the ground surface.

3. A surface breaking tool for attachment to the dipstick of an excavating machine, comprising: an upper plate having a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough; a stud slidably projected through each of said apertures, said studs having nuts threaded onto their upper ends and having threaded lower ends; a lower, concentric plate spaced below said upper plate, said lower plate having tapped apertures into which the lower ends of said studs are threaded; a compression spring surrounding each of said studs between said plates to yieldingly maintain the same in spaced relation and to provide a shock absorber therebetween; a weighted shank housing depending from the underside of said lower plate, said housing having a central vertical bore therethrough, and having a tapped radial bore communicating therewith; an elongated shank slidably carried in said vertical housing bore, said shank being of a length to project below said housing when its upper end abuts the underside of said lower plate, gravity normally causing said slidable shank to assume a lowered position extending substantially below said housing, said shank having a longitudinal groove therein terminating below its upper end and having an annular flange rigid on its lower end; a set screw threaded in said housing radial bore and protruding into said shank groove; a pointed tip removably mounted on the lower end of said shank, said tip having an annular flange adapted to be bolted to said shank flange; and means for removably mounting said tool on the lower end of an excavator dipstick, whereby said tool may be lowered to cause the pointed tip on said shank to forcibly strike and break the ground, and whereby said weighted housing will continue downwardly on said shank until said lower plate forcibly strikes the top of said shank to deliver additional breaking impact against the ground surface.

4. In an excavator having a pivotally mounted boom and having a rigid dipstick pivotally and reciprocally mounted on said pivotally mounted boom, a weighted member having a vertical bore, means for detachably connecting said weighted member to the lower end of said dipstick whereby its position may be controlled both by pivotal movement of the boom and by pivotal movement of the dipstick, a shank reciprocally mounted in said bore and having a lower end depending from the weighted member, means at the upper end of said bore engageable with the upper end of said shank to hammer the latter when the shank is in telescopic condition in said bore, stop means for limiting extensible movement by gravity of said shank in said bore, and a hammering tool on the lower end of said shank whereby when the dipstick is reciprocated blows will be delivered to said tool through said shank.

- 5. In an excavator having a pivotally mounted boom and having a rigid dipstick pivotally and reciprocally mounted on said pivotally mounted boom, a weighted member having a vertical bore, a flexible chain connection between said weighted member and the lower end of said dipstick, a shank reciprocally mounted in said bore and having a lower end depending from the weighted member,- means at the upper end of said bore engageable with the upper end of said shank to hammer the latter when the shank is in telescopic condition in said bore, stop means for limiting extensible movement by gravity'of said shank in said here, a hammering tool on the lower end of, said shank whereby when the dipstick is reciprocated blows will be delivered to said tool through said shank, and means on said dipstick for selectively taking up said flexible chain connection to provide a rigid connection betweensaid weighted member and dipstick.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,096,740 5/1914 Monroe 175305 X 1,541,392 6/1925 Reaney 29937 X 1,731,576 10/1929 Jackson 299-37 X 1,841,802 1/1932 Gettelman 299-37 3,073,219 1/1963 Miller 9448 ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HAMMERING TOOL FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH A VERTICALLY RECIPROCABLE MEMBER COMPRISING A WEIGHTED HOUSING HAVING MEANS FOR CONNECTION WITH SAID VERTICALLY RECIPROCABLE MEMBER AND HAVING A VERTICAL BORE, A SHANK TELESCOPICALLY SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BORE, MEANS AT SAID UPPER END OF SAID BORE POSITIONED TO ENGAGE AND HAMMER SAID SHANK WHERE THE SHANK TELESCOPES IN THE BORE, SAID SHANK HAVING A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE THEREIN TERMINATING SHORT OF IT UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, A SET SCREW THREADED IN SAID HOUSING AND PROJECTING INTO SAID SHANK GROOVE, AND A TOOL CARRIED BY THE LOWER END OF SAID SHANK. 